Multiple container



. July 7, 1936. F. REICHEL MULT I PLE CONTAINER Filed Oct. 16. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet II,

ATTORN EYS July 7, 1936. F. REICHEL MULTlPLE CONTAINER Filed Oct. 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR i /{4510M 2 6E296 M M ATTORNEYS Patented July 7, 1936 PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE CONTAINER Ferdinand R'elchel, New Haven, Conn., assignor to National Folding Box Company, New Haven, 601111.,8 corporation of New Jersey Application October 16, 1931, Serial No. 569,150

lclalm.

This invention relates to a multiple container adapted for shipping and display purposes.

My multiple display container comprises generally two or more box sections which are separably hinged together. When used for display purposes, the box sections can be swung apart to display the goods therein, and when the container is used for shipping purposes, the box sections can be swung together in stacked relationship, in which position the goods are protected during shipment. Each box section is formed from a single blank of cardboard material which may be held in assembled box form by means of tabs or gluing. The hinges are preferably formed by striking out a tab from one box section which tab may be removably inserted in a corresponding slot in the adjacent box section. The box sections can thus be used separably or collectively for display purposes, as found desirable.

My multiple. container finds great use in the display and merchandising of companion articles which are offered for sale as a unit. For example, my multiple display container, comprising twin sections, has been used for packaging and displaying a hot water bottle and fountain syringe combination. Similarly, my 'multiple container may be used for packaging other goods, such as bed spreads and pillow cases, table cloths and napkins, neckties and socks, shirts and neckties, golf sweaters and golf hose, or other combinations of merchandise salable either collectively or in parts. Each box section is adapted to contain one of the article combinations and the sections are separably joined together so that each article can be displayed separately or collectively, as desired.

An object of my invention is to provide a multiple container especially adapted'for the shipping and display of merchandise combinations.

Another object of my invention is to provide a display container comprising hinged sections, each section adapted to contain merchandise, the

' sections being separable to permit the merchandise to be displayed separately or'in connection with other merchandise.

Another object of my invention is to provide a multiple display and shipping container which can be easily and economically made without waste of material, which can be shipped in flat condition to the packer and quicklyassembled by unskilled labor, and which furthermore provides an attractive display device for merchandise either separately or in combination, which is strong and durable in construction and fully protects the goods during shipment.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the disclosure 'proceeds.

Although the novel features which are be- 5 lieved to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claim appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood 10 by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 illustrates a cutout blank from which one section of my multiple container is formed; 15

Fig. 2 is a cutout blank from which a companion section of my multiple container can be formed;

Fig.- 3 shows the blanks illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 assembled to provide box sections;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of two box sections hinged together and set up in display position;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view of two sections hinged together, this view being taken on line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of fragmentary portions of two sections illustrating one manner of hinging the sections together;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating one method of securing the one piece blank together 30 to form an assembled section; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified box section'formed from a single blank assembled together by gluing.

Like reference characters denote like parts in 35 the several figures of the drawings.

In Figure 1 I have shown a cardboard blank A from which one of my box sections is formed. Blank A comprises a front wall portion In and a rear wall portion ll joined by the side wall por- 40 tion l2, the front wall portion In and side wall portion I! being defined by a score line l3 and the side wall portion l2 and rear wall portion ll being defined by a score line It. A side wall portion I5 is defined from the front wall section 45 by a score line l6. When the blank is to be assembled to form a box section, the blank is folded into tubular form so that the side wall portion l5 overlaps a flap I 1 extending from the back portion H and defined therefrom by a score line 50 I8. To secure the blank in tubular form, I provide a tab l9 which may be inserted into a slot 2| cut into the back wall portion ll along the score line l8, as clearly shown in Figure 1. When the tab I9 is inserted into the slot 2| it will nor- 55 mally hold the box in assembled condition. 'To

positively prevent withdrawal of the tab l9 from the slot 2 I, I may provide a projection 20extending from the tab I9 which acts as a locking ele-' ment when bent over and prevent withdrawal of the tab from the slot.

Each end of the box section is closed by an end wall portion 24 defined from the frontwall portion III by a score line 25. A flap portion 22 provided at each end of, the side wall portions 12 and I5, defined therefrom by score line 23, are bent inwardly during assembly of the box and the end wall portion 24 is then bent thereover. Closure flap 26 hinged to the end wall portion 24 along the score line 21 is inserted into the box section to close the same. A finger cutout 28 may be provided to facilitate opening of the section.

The end walls 24 of the section operate to maintain the front wall In and rear wall II in rigid spaced relationship which normally prevents withdrawal of the tab l9 from the slot 2|. The front wall I of the box section may be provided with a window 29 through which the merchandise contained therein may be made visible. A strip of material 30 crossing the window opening may be provided to give the necessary strength to the front wall.

The companion box section, shown more particularly in Figure 3, may be substantially of the same construction as the box section just described. The paper board blank B, shown in Figure 2, from which the companion box section is formed, is substantially identical with the blank A shown in Figure 1 and above described, as is evident by a comparison of Figures 1 and 2.

The various parts of blank B are substantially similar to corresponding parts of blank A and are marked with the same numerals with the addition of sub-character a which is to indicate that the part referred to is a part of the companion blank B. Figure 2 need not, therefore, be further described.

Means are provided to separably hinge box sections A and B together. Tab portions 3| and 34 are provided which are struck out from the side wall portion |a of box section B, as clearly shown in Figure 3. A locking element 32 projects downwardly from the tab portion 3| and a locking ele ment 35 projects upwardly from the tab portion 34. A pair of spaced slots 33 and 36 are cut through the score line IS in the box section A. Tabportion 3i may be inserted through the slot 33 and tab portion 34 may be inserted through the slot 36. By bending over the locking ele ments 32 and 35, as shown more particularly in Figure 6, the box sections are locked and hinged together. The box sections can be separated, as is evident, by proper manipulation of the locking elements 32 and 35 to permit withdrawal of the tabs 3| and 34 from their respective slots 33 and 36.

If found desirable, each blank forming the box sections may be held in tubular form by cementing the side wall portion l5 to the flap l1 thereof, as shown in Figure 8. In such event, the retaining tab portion l9 need not be used.

It is now seen that I have provided a novel multiple display container in which companion articles of merchandise may be displayed in separate box sections. The sections may be hinged together to form a display combination or they may be used independently. When my multiple container is used, a purchaser is able to make a quick comparison of the goods displayed and is able to obtain matched articles of merchandise without the inconvenience of separate purchases. My box sections may be angularly adiusted with respect to each other so as to effect a most attractive and convenient display of the merchandise. When the box sections are closed together so that the front wall lDa lies adjacent to front wall ID, the goods are fully protected. In this condition my multiple container provides an excellent shipping medium.

While-certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A tubular display container comprising in combination front, side, rear, bottom and top walls and a reinforcing side wall, two of said side walls having reinforcing tab portions disposed at right angles thereto, one of said side walls having tab portions deformed therefrom and another tab portion integral therewith and extending therefrom and one of the side walls having a longitudinal aperture therein.

FERDINAND REICHEL. 

